Delhi’s Next CM: AAP MLAs Gather at Kejriwal Residence for Key Decisions
Amid growing anticipation, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislators are set to gather at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence to decide on the next candidate to lead the state. Kejriwal has stated that a new leader from AAP will take charge temporarily until the elections, putting to rest any speculation about former deputy chief minister and prominent AAP figure, Manish Sisodia, assuming the role.
Kejriwal’s surprise announcement to resign has sent shockwaves through the political arena. A day after he made this declaration, Kejriwal is slated to meet with Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor (L-G) V K Saxena, likely to submit his resignation. The development has sparked conversations regarding potential successors, with party sources hinting at ministers such as Atishi, Gopal Rai, and Kailash Gahlot as possible contenders. Kejriwal has clarified that the new appointee will be a temporary replacement until elections are conducted.
This sudden move is seen by many as a consequence of Kejriwal’s decision to take the moral high ground following his recent release on bail after spending nearly six months in jail due to alleged involvement in the Delhi liquor policy scam. By resigning, he seeks to convey a message of integrity, calling for early elections. However, others argue that his resignation is not purely an act of principle, but rather a strategic maneuver under current circumstances.
Political adversaries, particularly the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), have been quick to criticize Kejriwal’s decision. BJP’s Delhi chief, Virender Sachdeva, asserted that Kejriwal’s resignation was not driven by integrity but by “compulsion.” Sachdeva also alleged widespread corruption within Delhi’s government departments during Kejriwal’s tenure. In contrast, Congress leaders like Jitu Patwari maintained that Kejriwal and his party have the autonomy to make decisions, but also highlighted the political implications of the situation.
The timing of Kejriwal’s resignation has fueled speculation about the upcoming elections. BJP’s Delhi president, Sachdeva, openly challenged AAP to conduct elections as early as October, despite the Delhi Assembly elections being scheduled for February next year. Sachdeva expressed confidence in the BJP’s readiness to contest, indicating the party’s eagerness to capitalize on the current situation.
Kejriwal’s move has elicited mixed responses within AAP as well. During a meeting of AAP’s Political Affairs Committee (PAC), Kejriwal had private discussions with each member to deliberate on the selection of the next chief minister. Party leaders, including Saurabh Bharadwaj, refrained from making premature comments, stating that it would be speculative to make any statements at this juncture. The PAC meeting was followed by an announcement that the AAP Legislative Party would convene the next day to finalize their decision.
Amid these internal deliberations, Kejriwal is expected to formally tender his resignation to the L-G, marking a significant shift in Delhi’s political landscape. His decision is also perceived as an attempt to take the narrative into his own hands amidst the ongoing investigations and legal challenges. Kejriwal’s offer to resign was described by some critics as a “political pretence” aimed at cloaking a tactical response to the judicial scrutiny he faces in the liquor scam case.
Prominent names such as Atishi, Gopal Rai, and Kailash Gahlot are being considered for the interim chief minister’s role, with Kejriwal assuring that the position will only be held until elections are conducted. This development comes in the wake of Kejriwal’s assertion that he will not reassume the chief minister’s office unless he secures a renewed mandate from the people.
With Kejriwal’s meeting with the L-G set for the following day, the political drama in Delhi continues to unfold. Whether his resignation will serve as a catalyst for early elections remains to be seen, but it certainly marks a pivotal moment for both AAP and Delhi’s political narrative.